Spiced Cutouts

Spiced Cutouts (from allrecipes.com)

1c butter, softened
1 1/2c white sugar
1T molasses
1 egg
3 1/4c all-purpose flour
1/4c orange juice
1T ground cinnamon
1T ground ginger
2tsp ground clove
2tsp ground cardamom
2tsp baking soda
1T orange zest

Powdered sugar and orange juice for glaze (pulpless OJ)

*preheat to 350º
*cream butter and sugar; beat in molasses and egg
*in separate bowl sift together flour, soda, spices
*alternate adding into butter mixture the flour mixture and orange juice, stir in zest
*on lightly floured surface roll dough to 1/8" thickness and cut out cookies with cookie cutters
*place on unprepared cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven 8-10 minutes, until slightly browned on edges
*cool on wire racks

Glaze my idea:
mix powdered sugar with orange juice until runny and use baster to brush onto cooled cookies

  Recipe says it makes 9doz but I only got 5doz. I know I rolled it thicker than 1/8" and I had some cutters that are on the larger size too. They do not say to refrigerate before rolling out but if your butter was really soft instead of 'just' soft then you may want to cool it down a little first.

Chocolate Biscotti

Chocolate Biscotti (found in a Sunday newspaper)
2c all-purpose flour
1/2c unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4tsp baking soda
1/2tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
6T (3 oz) unsalted butter, softened
1c sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4c dried cranberries (I skipped these since I'm bringing them to a family dinner)
3/4c mini chocolate chips

*sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda/powder, salt; set aside
*beat together sugar with flour until smooth, beat in eggs
*mix in dry ingredients until blended
*fold in cranberries and chips
*divide dough into 2, put on opposite sides of a parchment-lined baking sheet; shape each into a 12"long x1/2" thick logs
*bake @ 350º for 25min, cool 20min
*slice into 1/2" thick cookies, stand up on side on bakingsheet
*bake 15min
*cool to room temperature        

Whole Grain Chippers

1 c butter, soft
2/3 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour (or more whole wheat)
2 c oats
1 (12 oz) pkg chocolate chips
sunflower seeds

-preheat oven to 375º
-cream butter and sugars, then eggs
-beat in soda, vanilla and salt
-add flours, oats and chips
-shape into balls and roll in sunflower seeds
-bake 8-10min

Spritz Cookies

1 c butter
2/3 c sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 c flour

-heat oven to 400º
-mix butter, sugar, yolks and extract
-work in flour
-place 1/4 batter into spritz press, squeeze onto ungreased cookie sheet
-bake 7-10min, not brown but set


6 doz

Sugar Cookies

3/4 c shortening/ part butter
1 csugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

-mix shortening,sugar, eggs and flour
-stir in rest
-chill 1 hour
-heat oven to 400º
-roll dough 1/8" thick and cut out into shapes
-bake on ungreased cookie sheet 6-8 min, until golden in color

Wheat Snickerdoodles

1/2 c butter
3/4 c sugar
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
1 2/3 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg

-cream butter and sugar
-beat in eggs
-stir dry together and add into butter mixture
-fold in nuts
-drop teaspoonfuls 2" apart on sprayed cookie sheet
-bake @ 375º for 10-12min

Instant Oaties (healthy cookies)

3/4 c oatmeal 3/4 c nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 c creamy peanut butter
1 T honey
1/2 c wheat germ

-spread oats on large plate; microwave on high 4min, or until lightly toasted, stir twice during cooking time
-in med. bowl mix dry milk and peanut butter
-stir in oats and honey
-form into walnut-sized balls and roll in wheat germ

Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies (no-bake)

2 c sugar
1/2 c milk
1/4 c butter
1/2 c peanut butter
3 T cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3 c oats

-boil milk, sugar, butter and cocoa for 1 min; stir constantly; remove from heat
-stir in salt, vanilla, peanut butter; then oats
-drop on wax paper and refrigerate until set

Oatmeal Cookies

2 1/2 sticks butter
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c flour (I use whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 c quick uncooked oats

-heat oven to 375º
-beat butter and sugars until fluffy
-beat in egg and vanilla
-add combined: flour,soda, salt and spices, mix well
-stir in oats
-drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet
-bake 8-9 min

Option:
instead of adding in cinnamon and nutmeg, add 1tsp cardamom